empower

verb

em·​pow·​er im-ˈpau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce empower (audio)
empowered; empowering; empowers

transitive verb

1
: to give official authority or legal power to
empowered her attorney to act on her behalf
2
: enable sense 1a
… nootropic agents empower the lower amounts of acetylcholine in diseased brains to work overtime …Science News
3
: to promote the self-actualization or influence of
The American women's movement has been inspiring and empowering women for nearly 20 years …Ron Hansen
Members of our discipline often envision themselves as agents of social change who try to promote critique of dominant ideologies and empower students to become active participants in the larger political world.Christy Friend

Examples of empower in a Sentence

seeking changes in the workplace that will empower women the federal agency empowered to collect taxes
Recent Examples on the Web State and local law enforcement officers have been empowered to jail migrants on trespassing charges. Ann E. Marimow, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 Operating locally, statewide and nationally, the league empowers voters and defends democracy through advocacy, education and legal action. Yan Zhao, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2024 One, who’s a Black editor, really empowered me to talk about my life story. Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024 Qualified tax strategists, especially Enrolled Agents, are empowered to represent clients before the IRS in audits, appeals, and tax dispute resolutions, offering invaluable assistance during complex tax issues. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 Liberated from the shackles of insecurity and aware of their competencies and strengths, people can be empowered to contribute to broader social systems. Graham Ward, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024 By training the students in photography, Torres said, the youth are empowered to express their creativity and build professional and personal confidence. Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Support from family and friends empowered me to embrace myself. Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2024 This includes prioritizing funds towards areas that offer the most significant impact, particularly in training and developing the skills of their workforce. Shift Focus from Technology to People: While technology is crucial, companies should focus on empowering their employees. James Hadley, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'empower.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of empower was in 1648

Dictionary Entries Near empower

Cite this Entry

“Empower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empower. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

empower

verb
em·​pow·​er im-ˈpau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce empower (audio)
: to give official authority or legal power to

Legal Definition

empower

transitive verb
em·​pow·​er im-ˈpau̇-ər How to pronounce empower (audio)
: to give official authority or legal power to
no branch of government should be empowered unilaterally to impose a serious penaltyL. H. Tribe

More from Merriam-Webster on empower

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